Sheffield-based B. Braun Medical is taking a leading role in the treatment of chronically ill renal patients following the acquisition of Avitum, the kidney dialysis company.
Paul Skelton, Finance Director at B. Braun Avitum UK, said: “The acquisition of Avitum adds a new dimension to B. Braun Medical’s expansion. It enables the company to provide cutting-edge kidney dialysis in treatment centres in NHS Trusts across the country.
“The centres are staffed by highly trained specialists providing the best possible treatment and care, which is now backed by the huge manufacturing, research and developmental body of B. Braun Medical. This places a new emphasis on the effective development of dialysis treatments across the UK and B Braun Avitum is positioned to catalyse that development. “B. Braun Avitum will apply and share its collective medical expertise for the benefit of patients and customers around the world and in close cooperation with healthcare communities in the 12 countries it now serves.”
Avitum was established in the UK in 1986 with the first of seven national renal units opening in Bangor, North Wales, under its previous ownership of Baxter Healthcare. B. Braun Avitum will incorporate all seven units and 144 staff.
The seven UK kidney dialysis units operate in partnership with NHS Trusts in Bangor, Merthyr Tydfil, Newport, Cardiff, Kidderminster, Bristol and Ipswich.
Miriam Barber, Finance Manager at B Braun Avitum said: “The new division’s remit is to provide dialysis, blood treatment systems, products and services and to offer high-quality, cost effective treatments – benefiting a global patient and customer base.
“The hemo and peritoneal dialysis therapy we specialise in is carried out by 120 trained nurses and experienced healthcare professionals who also provide home support across the UK. “We see this union as a fantastic new part of our development which offers great scope for our dedicated teams to further progress the quality of dialysis treatment for more than 500 patients currently using our treatment centres.”
B. Braun Avitum UK Ltd will be based at B. Braun Medical’s Thorncliffe Park headquarters and the support services for the entire UK operation will be handled by a dedicated Sheffield team.
Dialysis is a life-saving method of replacing kidney function when it fails in eliminating waste products from the blood and is the only reliable process to continually assist the body to expel waste liquids in cases of renal failure.
